The General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council announced on February 7 “Opinions on Making and Conforming to the Ecological Protection Red Line”, which makes it clear that the ecological protection red line should have been made nationwide and that a basic system should have been established before the end of 2020.

It urges local governments to make and obey red lines for ecological protection, focusing on environmental improvement and ecological maintenance, following the systematic protection procedures. The red line control system is made to protect the ecological functions, sizes and quality in important ecological places. It vows to persist in the accusation against the responsible persons—whether transferred, promoted or retired—once the ecological environment and resources are severely damaged during their terms.